2023-10-12 20:07:58
Whoever wants to drown his dog accuses him of rabies, says the proverb. In Madagascar, anyone who wants to get rid of an opponent accuses him of being crazy. This is what happened to the President of the Senate who had the audacity to reveal, on Monday October 9, that he had suffered “pressures” and ” death threats “ from members of the government, who pushed him not to exercise interim power until the presidential election. Herimanana Razafimahefa had, in fact, to everyone’s surprise, filed a letter of waiver on September 8 with the High Constitutional Court (HCC), invoking ” personal reasons “. Letter that he now wishes to see withdrawn in order to be able to occupy the function provided for by the Constitution.
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Things did not drag on: after having publicly questioned his ” mental impairment “, the senators meeting in extraordinary session, Thursday, October 12, at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Christian Ntsay, voted for his dismissal. There was little suspense as the chamber was won by the IRD, the party of outgoing president Andry Rajoelina. Fifteen of its eighteen members are affiliated with the political party. Mr. Razafimahefa, who also came from it, was excluded on Thursday morning.
The examination carried out the same morning by the neuropsychiatry department of Befelatanana hospital nevertheless concluded that the senator was in good health: Mr. Razafimahefa is “in good physical health. His intellectual functions are intact, without dementia or alteration of cognitive function. Furthermore, his psychic function does not present any alienation. He is then able to carry out and assume his professional activities”affirms the medical report that the President of the Senate submitted to the HCC to demonstrate that the accusations of his peers are unfounded.
« Violation flagrante »
In addition to the reason given for removing Mr. Razafimahefa from the upper house, the regularity of the convening of the Senate in a special session and in a hasty manner when the ordinary session was to open on Tuesday, October 17, also raised protests. Thirty-eight deputies contacted the HCC “for the purposes of reviewing constitutionality”. According to the Malagasy Constitution, when the National Assembly is not in session – which is currently the case – the government can convene senators in special session but “for review only”as stipulated in article 84. “This is yet another blatant violation of the law. The institutional coup that we have been denouncing for weeks continues”denounces Hanitra Razafimanantsoa, deputy of TIM, the party of the opponent and presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana.
The HCC also announced on Thursday a postponement of the first round by one week, to November 16, following a request from candidate Andry Raboelina. Seriously injured in the face by a tear gas grenade during the October 2 demonstration against the outgoing president, Andry Raboelina was evacuated to Mauritius for treatment and cannot begin his campaign at the same time as the others competitors. Here again, the HCC’s decision constitutes another breach of the law in the eyes of the opposition, which reminds us that setting the date of elections remains a prerogative of the government.
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“When will the international community open its eyes and denounce the excesses of this regime? We are beyond acceptable. No one can believe that the conditions are met to hold credible elections accepted by all”, calls on candidate Hajo Andrianainarivelo (head of the MMM party), to deplore the lack of reaction from foreign partners. Until now, they have limited themselves to criticizing a disproportionate use of violence to repress peaceful demonstrations.
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